Thread cleaner and mounting therefor



June 13, 19330 R 5H N 1,914,304

THREAD CLEANER AND MOUNTING THEREFOR Filed July 22, 1951 /Z z+ 2 A w "30 ly thereafter,

Patented June E3, 1933 UL E'ETED RALPH SHIPMAN, F SUNBURY, PENNSYLVANZA THREAD CLEANER AND MOUNTING THEREFOR Application filed July 22, 1931. Serial No. 552,497.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for cleaning threads, yarns and the like, and has particular reference to a cleaner for removing knots, slugs, lumps, lint and 5 foreign matter from the thread while the same is being wound on bobbins preparatory to use. As is well known in the textile art, it is desirable to remove all enlargements or foreign matter from the thread from which 19 articles are to be manufactured so that enlargements or foreign matter will not cause imperfections in the finished article.

The cleaning of the thread heretofore has been done by running the thread through a slot within a fixed plate, that is to say, the blade has no swinging lateral movement. A disadvantage of a cleaning device of this kind is that when the porcelain guides on each side of the cleaner blade wear, as they will, the thread does not pass through the guides and cleaner blade in the same angle,

which means after the wear has taken place, the thread, will be dragged along one wall of the slot instead of directly through the middle of the slot. By dragging the thread on one side of the slot of the cleaner only, the thread is chafed and frayed, thus becoming weakened. Heretofore before a thread cleaner has started to operate, and constantand the blade cleaner have to be aligned so that the thread passes in a straight line from the guides through the center of the cleaner. As the machinery has to be stopped, this causes unnecessary delay. Wear on the upper and lower guides is emphasized when the thread is taken from the extreme end of one bobbin and deposited on the same end or the opposite end of the lower bobbin. In the one case, the thread would tend to follow one side of the upper guide and the same side of the lower guide or in the other case, one side of the upper guide and the other side of the 7, lower guide. To overcome the disadvantages spoken of above, I mount my cleaner blade so that the same can have lateral movement and align itself with the thread as the same passes between the two porcelain thread guides which are commonly used in a structure of this kind, .even after the guides bethe upper and lower guides come worn, and even though the direction of feed of the thread changes, as indicated above.

This invention also contemplates a readily detachable cleaner blade which can be removed from a winding machine, without removing or loosening a screw or nut, while thread is passing through the thread guides so as to insert a new blade of the same size or one of different gauge. A readily detachable cleaner blade is advantageous because it is often desirable to change the blade because the same is worn or because a blade of different gauge is to be used on the thread, and to be able to do this readily without having to loosen or remove means for holding the cleaner blade is a decided advantage because the winding machine does not have to be stopped.

This invention also contemplates two adjustments of the swinging or lateral movement of the cleaner blade when acted on by thread. This is accomplished by changing the position of the support on which the cleaner blade is detachably mounted. This 7 is advantageous because it gives two permanent adjustments for controlling the distance that the cleaner blade can swing in either direction and also controls the position of the thread in thecleaner blade with the same settings for the thread guides. By being able to regulate the point on the cleaner blade that the thread must pass, it means that any irregularity in the cleaner blade can be removed from contact with the thread without changing the thread. guides.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter set forth and the novel features defined by the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cleaner device constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a section on the lines 22, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation of a cleaner blade and the mounting therefor shown in Figure 1, the same being shown partly in section.

" This is desirable when the Figure 4 is a perspective of the demountable cleaner blade.

Figure 5 is a plan of the support for the cleaner blade.

Figure 6 is a plan of the cleaner blade sup port in such a position that it has its greatest lateral movement with its other position shown in dotted line.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the sleeve but at right angles to the showing of Figure 3.

In Figure l, the bracket 1 has the projections 2 and 3, by which the bracket and those parts supported by it are attached by the screw 4 to a rod (not shown). At the top and bottom of the bracket are holes to receive the threaded screws 5 and 6 to which are at tached the upper and lower thread guides 7 and 8, through which passes the thread A. The locknuts 9 and 10 hold the thread guides in the proper position so that they will not turn out of alignment. On the same side of thebracket 1, as the thread guides 7 and 8, and about midway between them is an arm 11, shown formed integrally with the bracket 1, although this support may be separate and attached to the bracket 1 in any convenient manner. There is a thread hole approximately in the center of the arm 11 to receive the machine screw 12 which holds the support 18 for the cleaner blade and the assembly for clamping the cleaner blade in place. The threaded portion of the machine screw 12 which penetrates the arm 11, is of smaller diameter than that portion which is encircled by the tubular sleeve 13, so that the screw 12 cannot be tightened to bind the support 18, through which it penetrates to the arm 11. The tubular sleeve 13, which is preferably made of brass. has an enlarged head 14 of approximately the diameter of the head of the screw 12 and against the shoulder of this enlargement abuts the coil spring 15. On the bottom of the tubular sleeve 13 is the washer 16 which is normally held down by the action of the coiled spring 15. The lower peripheral edge of the washer is beveled as at 17 for the reason hereinafter set forth. The bottom ot the sleeve 13 is of smaller diameter as 13. han that portion of the sleeve encircled by the spring 15. and this smaller portion fits snugly in the hole 1.8 where it penetrates the blade support 18. By havingthe bottom of the sleeve 13 the same diameter as the hole 18" in the blade support, when the parts are assembled, the support with its associated locking means for the cleaner blade can be removed from the arm 11 without becoming disassembled.

position of support 18 is to be changed as heretofore pointed out to change the swing of the cleaner blade. On the bottom of the sleeve 13 extending up over the smaller diameter 13 and up over a portion of the larger diameter are out two parallel faces 13 through which passes the parallel shoulders 19 and 19 of the blade. The above in connection with the upturned edges of the blade support form guiding means for correctly inserting the blade in its support.

The cleaner blade plate proper is composed of two tempered steel plates 20 riveted or afl'ised to a base so that a gap is formed between the plates of the desired thickness, through which the thread to be cleaned passes. The heel or rear of the blade cleaner support has two projections 212l between which opens up a circular opening 22 connected to the projections 2121 through the inclined surfaces and the vertical shoulders 19 and 19. The upper surface of the plate cleaner support adjacent to the circular opening 22 is beveled or cut away as at 24 so as to he of the same shape the surface 17 of the washer 16.

lVhile I have shown in the drawing the cleaner blade composed of two individual pieces of soecially treated steel riveted to av torked blade base, as I consider this con. struction the most efiicient and easiest to manufacture, the cleaner blade could be made of one piece of metal split through a portion thereof to form a cleaner of the desired gauge and in that construction the reverse end of the blade would embody my invention.

The sleeve 13, coil spring 15 and the washer 16 are assembled as a unit and are supported through the lower end of the sleeve which penetrates through the hole 18 in the blade support 18, as the sleeve fits snugly in the hole 18. The blade support 18 has the parallel upturned edges 25 which in connection with the projections 21 on the cleaner blade support act as guides when the blade is inserted within the holder.

The hole 18 in the blade support 18 is not in the true center of the support as shown in Figure 5. By having the hole ofl' center and by placing the hole so that the center of the hole is closer to the bracket 1, the swinging movement of the holder is limited because the outer edges of the support will come in contact with the bracket 1. Taking the reverse, that is to say, the hole 1 is turned about so that the hole in the blade support is removed a greater distance from the bracket 1 than it would be if the hole was in the center of the blade. the support wi l have a greater swinging movement before the support comes in contact with the braclret 1.

To insert the cleaner blade into the holder. it is only necessary to place the blade on th outer edge of the blade support 18 and to push the'blade towards the bracket 1. The rounded shoulders 19 and 19 align the blade and guiding the sameuntil the inclined surfaces 23 come in contact with the complementary beveled face 17 of the washer- 1G. The washer 16 is thus raised and immediately thereafter lowers by action of the coil spring 15, placing the beveled shoulder of the washer into the beveled surface 2 of the blade. The blade is held firmly in this position, but can be readily removed by yank ing or pulling the same. The blade cannot be readily inserted upside down because in that position the complementary surface and 23 do not meet in the proper position so that effort will overcome the compression of the spring 15.

From the above, it will be seen that I have perfected a readily detachable cleaner blade that is self aligning and that can only be put on in the correct way without undue effort and which is firmly locked when inserted in he correct position.

lVhile I have shown my demountable cleaner blade used on a support that has a swinging movement, the same can be used on a fixed base; that is to say, those that do not have a movement, although the advantages of a self aligning support will be absent. To mount the cleaner blade on a fiXed support all that is necessary is to extend the threads on the screw 12 so that the support 18 is tightly clamped on the arm 11 by the screw In this application, I do not claim broadly the novel features of a laterally swinging cleaner blade, as this is claimed in mv copending application, Serial Number 533.5 17. filed April 28, 1931.

What is claimed is 1. In a thread cleaner, the combination of a cleaner blade, an arm, a blade support, said blade support being flat with upturned edges on two sides, means for attaching the blade support to said arm including a sleeve on which is mounted for movement a washer, said washer having a portion of its lower surface the same shape as that portion of the blade which is engaged between the blade support and washer.

2. In readily detachable cleaner blade, a support therefor and a cleaner blade held thereon, said support having upturned edges to engage the sides of the blade, means for holding the blade on said support comprising an upright on which is mounted a washer normally held under compression towards said blade, with a circular cut out portion in the blade into which the upright and washer mounted thereon enters.

3. In a readily detachable cleaner blade, a bracket having an arm. a blade support mounted on said arm and a cleaner blade held thereon, said blade support having a flat portion and upturned lateral edges, which form a guide for the cleaner blade, means for holding the support to said arm, said means also forming a readily detachable lock for the blade, including an upright having thereon a sleeve on which is mounted for movement a washer, with means for normally holding the washer down on the supportand on the blade when carried thereby.

111 a readily detachable cleaner blade, a support, and a cleaner blade mounted thereon, means for locking the blade to the support comprising a washer and an upright the washer being mounted on the upright for movement under compression, said Washer having its lower )eripheral face rounded off, the cleaner blade adapted to be inserted in said support, said blade having the usual thread cleaning slot therein and on its other end two projections with a rounded opening therebetween, into which the washer enters.

5. In a readily detachable cleaner blade, having a swinging lateral movement, a support, a cleaner blade mounted on the support, and a snap catch for attaching the cleaner blade to the support when the cleaner blade is inserted in the support.

6. In a device of the class described, including bracket having thereon an arm, a detachable thread cleaner blade, a swinging support for the detachable thread cleaner blade mounted on said arm, and blade eng ging means other than attaching means between the blade and the support, said support also having a hole therein which is re noved from the center of said support, with attaching means that enter said hole so that the amount of swing of the support and blade carried thereon can be varied by the position of the support on said arm.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

RALPH SHIPMAN. 

